An MBA is a significant investment, in terms of both time and money. But the rewards for MBA graduates can make for compelling reasons for undertaking an MBA program.

And the rewards can be more substantial than just a salary bump. An MBA can obviously help you advance in your career, but it can also help you develop an international network, get leadership skills, and even make a difference in the world.

Here are some of the most common reasons why people do an MBA.

1. To launch an international career2. To shift sectors or functional areas3. To gain international exposure4. To gain new skills and knowledge5. To be the boss6. To grow your network7. To get a pay raise

"And, of course, the salary increase is important," says Doyle.

As well as offering significant opportunities for professional and personal growth, MBA programs offer a good chance for a raise post-graduation.

For those who have attended world-class MBA programs, pay bumps are verifiable, and substantial.

In the most recent Financial Times Global MBA ranking, for instance, MBA graduates from Rutgers Business School reported that three years after graduation, they had increased their salaries by 130 percent, on average.